Difference between rules and laws

Rules vs laws:

We live in a structured society today that has been thus designed, fashioned and molded by human beings themselves over the course of centuries and it does take quite an effort to maintain the peace and harmony that prevails between us. The need for a system that oversees that such order is maintained was felt a very long time ago, because of which the human civilizations came up with various protocols referred to as rules and laws that helped significantly in this process of maintaining peace and order. But how are laws and rules different from one another? Let us observe.

What are rules? Rules can be described as codes of conduct that are thus coined in reference to specific situations somewhat similar to customs but which have a greater significance as there is usually a punishment associated with breaking them. Rules are set by individuals or organizations in instances such as playing a game, behavior in a particular workplace and such. Rules can also be judicial legal findings such as in a judge’s ruling on a case. Rules are legal principles that are established in a legal dispute. They provide more specificity to a particular law passed by a legislative body.

What are laws? Laws can be defined as legal rules of conduct created and enforced by a sovereign power such as the state or the legislature. Laws apply equally to all people and this is referred to as the ‘rule of law’. Laws have a certain procedure to go through in order to be passed as a law. This involves a law starting off as a bill, going through various checks and balances which after being approved and voted upon, finally becomes a law.

What is the difference between laws and rules? Laws and rules are both essential to our lives as they ensure the safety of the human being as well as their wellbeing. However, although they do overlap each other with regards to many aspects, rules and laws have many distinct differences which lend them their own respective identities.

A law can be defined as a legal version of a rule. A rule can be set and enforced by a parent, a sibling or an elder whereas laws are enforced by the state or the legislature. Therefore, rules are more personalized in nature whereas laws are set in a more general sense. However, laws too differ from one country to another or from one nation to the next, in which case, the laws are personalized according to the country in which they are executed. This is perhaps due to the reason that rules and laws are designed to suit the varying needs and wants of individuals and certain communities and are thus personalized to suit the conditions in one’s own country or in one’s own household.

Rules can exist in games and in organizations and yet it is only the people who form a part of that game or the organization who must obey them. However, laws must be obeyed by every individual in a certain country. Therefore, laws pertain to a larger group of individuals as a whole whereas rules pertain to much smaller groups or to separate individuals alone.

Rules and laws differ with regards to the consequences of breaking them as well. Rules are much more flexible and the punishments received at breaking them may not be so severe. However, laws are not flexible and therefore, breaking the law results in severe punishments that can affect an individual permanently. The reason for this might be the fact that rules are set up regarding trivial things in life which even if broken may not cause severe consequences whereas in breaking certain laws, an individual can cause such adverse consequences which may leave permanent scars.

Summary

Laws are legal versions of rules.

The punishment for breaking rules is not so sever as the punishments for breaking laws.

Rules are more personal whereas laws are more general in nature.

Rules must only be obeyed by individuals of a certain group or an organization to where the rules apply whereas law pertains to each and every citizen of a country.